Plundering the Faithful

Polygamists continue to pipe big money to their fugitive prophet as their towns face financial ruin

A A A Comments By John Dougherty Thursday, Dec 29 2005

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But Zitting says not everybody in the polygamist enclave is complacent anymore, even if they haven't figured out a way to seize political power.

He refers to the legion of excommunicated FLDS members who have remained in the area. Some of these dissidents, Zitting says, have complained bitterly to the news media, particularly New Times, about the sensational aspects of polygamy.

Mark Folkersen

Hildale Mayor David Zitting faces a financial crisis.

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He blames media coverage of the community for the serious financial and social problems facing the area: "I really think that the media impact on the community is the number-one factor."

And, in a sense, he is right.

New Times began investigating the fundamentalist Mormon area three years ago, and its stories have revealed widespread sexual abuse of minors inside polygamist unions and huge financial irregularities involving apparently illegal use of public funds. Only in the past year have some of those responsible for the sexual abuse been indicted for their alleged offenses. And only in the past year has the Arizona Attorney General's Office gotten serious about investigating the probable misuse of public funds at places like the Colorado City Unified School District.

As for Zitting, he is faced with the difficult task of trying to keep the Hildale town government in operation as it teeters on the verge of bankruptcy. Prophet Jeffs' order to FLDS members to refuse to pay property taxes is contributing to the financial woes gripping Zitting's town.

Hildale's $1.1 million budget is facing a $202,000 shortfall. Zitting has had to institute an across-the-board spending freeze.

"Expenditures, except for those that are locked in, have stopped," he says.

In past years, Zitting says Hildale could turn to a commercial bank for a loan to cover intermittent budget shortfalls, but the town's longtime lender, Zion's Bank, is refusing to provide credit "because of the uncertainty in the community."

Despite the financial strain facing the town and the fugitive flight of his religious leader, Zitting appears calm. He says disputes over polygamy date back to Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith.

"This isn't new what's going on here," the mayor says. "It's been going on for many, many years."

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